Press conference marks pastor's release

We have posted video of the press conference following the release of Pastor Edwin Egar of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

On February 11, 2009, Pastor Egar was abducted. His colleagues flew into action and began working for his release. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), David Hudson, area coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, Nancy Eng MacNeill, associate with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and Bruce’s family were in Manila at the time as guests of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

Through the quick action of church leaders, Edwin was released in a neighboring village in the early morning hours. After a very long night, he was brought to the UCCP Shalom Center and a press conference was held in the afternoon of February 12. Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow and David Hudson participated in the news conference as the faith community spoke out against the political climate in the Philippines that allows this type of situation to take place.